S07-4 Sporting programs aimed at inactive population groups in the Netherlands: factors influencing their long-term sustainability in the organized sports setting

Abstract Background The organized sports sector has received increased interest as a setting to stimulate physical activity among inactive target groups. To include many inactive people and to obtain population health benefits, it is important that effective sporting programs are sustained (i.e. continuation of program activities) over a long period of time. This study identified the factors influencing the long-term sustainability of these kind of sporting programs located within local sports clubs in the Netherlands. Methods Fourteen Dutch sporting programs aimed at increasing physical activity levels of inactive population groups and funded within the National Action Plan for Sport and Exercise (NAPSE) were the focus of this study. The programs were developed by ten Dutch National Sports Federations (NSFs) and implemented by different sports clubs in the Netherlands within a three-year funded implementation period (2008-2011). This research consisted of semi-structured face-to-face interviews with the program coordinators of the NSFs (n = 14) and semi-structured telephone interviews with representatives of sports clubs that provided the programs (n = 17 continued the program, n = 11 discontinued the program) six and a half years after the funding period ended (November 2017-March 2018). A sustainability framework with five pre-specified main themes (i.e. program design, implementation, trainer/coach, organizational setting, broader community environment) guided data collection and (deductive) thematic analysis. Results Ten of the fourteen NAPSE funded sporting programs were sustained at the level of the NSFs. Most factors facilitating (+) and impeding (-) the long-term sustainability of the programs were common to both NSFs and sports clubs, like program adaptation (+) and a lack of program financing (-). Program evaluation (+) and high program costs (-) were specific factors mentioned by NSFs, while factors related to human resources (e.g. lack of volunteers (-)) or the sports club nature (e.g. social aspect in program design (+)) applied to sports clubs. The factors were summarized in the form of a checklist. Conclusions Key factors influencing the long-term sustainability of the sporting programs were identified. The results can be used to develop strategies to promote long-term sustainability of these kind of programs and inform funding guidelines in countries with a similar organized sports infrastructure.


Background
Sports clubs have been acknowledged as health promoting settings by researchers and policymakers. Limited research has linked the health promoting sports club (HPSC) concept with evidence-driven strategies to provide sports clubs a framework to develop health promotion interventions. As implementation science insists on the creation of theoretically grounded interventions, the objective of this work was to provide sports clubs an evidence-driven intervention framework to implement health promotion in sports clubs. Methods An iterative qualitative process in three steps was undertaken to accomplish the objective: (1) adaptation from the HPSC concept to create the HPSC model, (2) reformulation of published evidence-driven guidelines into implementable intervention components (ICs) and (3) merging of the model with the ICs to provide an evidence-based intervention framework for sports clubs. The research team first defined the various elements of the model and formulated ICs, then three groups (French sport students, French experts and Swedish experts) classified the ICs into the HPSC model. In order to retain classification, at least a 2 group agreement was required.

Results
To aid with theory selection, the research team drafted 5 indicators to consider sports clubs as a health promoting setting. Guided by these indicators, the theoretical 'HPSC concept' was chosen as the basis to define and create the 'HPSC model', which defines three sports club levels (club, directors, coaches) and four health determinants (organizational, social, environmental, economic) per level. Published guidelines from two literature reviews were used to develop 14 strategies with 55 intervention components. IC categorization by the three focus groups included: 79 classifications at the club level, 67 classifications at the director level and the coaching level retained 48 classifications.

Conclusions
The theoretical HPSC model and designed framework are a starting point to plan, select and deliver interventions to increase HP efforts by stakeholders in several ways: (1) clubs can apply strategies based on goals, (2) clubs can target specific Abstract citation ID: ckac093.037 S07-4 Sporting programs aimed at inactive population groups in the Netherlands: factors influencing their long-term sustainability in the organized sports setting Linda Ooms 1 1 Mulier Instituut, Utrecht, The Netherlands Corresponding author: l.ooms@mulierinstituut.nl

Background
The organized sports sector has received increased interest as a setting to stimulate physical activity among inactive target groups. To include many inactive people and to obtain population health benefits, it is important that effective sporting programs are sustained (i.e. continuation of program activities) over a long period of time. This study identified the factors influencing the long-term sustainability of these kind of sporting programs located within local sports clubs in the Netherlands. Methods Fourteen Dutch sporting programs aimed at increasing physical activity levels of inactive population groups and funded within the National Action Plan for Sport and Exercise (NAPSE) were the focus of this study. The programs were developed by ten Dutch National Sports Federations (NSFs) and implemented by different sports clubs in the Netherlands within a three-year funded implementation period (2008)(2009)(2010)(2011). This research consisted of semi-structured face-to-face interviews with the program coordinators of the NSFs (n = 14) and semi-structured telephone interviews with representatives of sports clubs that provided the programs (n = 17 continued the program, n = 11 discontinued the program) six and a half years after the funding period ended (November 2017-March 2018). A sustainability framework with five pre-specified main themes (i.e. program design, implementation, trainer/coach, organizational setting, broader community environment) guided data collection and (deductive) thematic analysis.

Results
Ten of the fourteen NAPSE funded sporting programs were sustained at the level of the NSFs. Most factors facilitating (+) and impeding (-) the long-term sustainability of the programs were common to both NSFs and sports clubs, like program adaptation (+) and a lack of program financing (-). Program evaluation (+) and high program costs (-) were specific factors mentioned by NSFs, while factors related to human resources Background In many European countries, about two-thirds of young people participate in sports clubs. However, these numbers peaks in early adolescence and then decrease. In addition, participation in sports clubs looks different in different groups. Participation in sports have the possibility to contribute to young peoplés health in a broad sense, both increasing their physical activity, but also their mental and social health. Sports clubs have also been acknowledged as health promoting settings by researchers and policymakers. Young people participate in sports for different reasons, most common are that it is fun, social, developing and healthy. On the other hand, young people drop out of sports because of coach and teammate relations, but also for organizational reasons like facilities or lack of coaches. A reason can also be too much focus on performance, although this can also be a motivating reason. A major task for sports clubs is to develop sports to maintain the participation of young people. Different perspectives can be used to develop sports clubs activities, among them the novel health-promoting sports clubs approach. Few studies have however explored young people's perspectives on health-promoting sports clubs. The aim of this study is therefore to explore young peoplés perspectives on what makes a sports club health-promoting. Methods This cross-sectional study conducted a brief survey in two schools in central Sweden with grade 9 pupils (15-16 years old). The sample consisted of 123 participants (54 % girls, 52 % sport clubs participants, 37 % former sports clubs participants). The questionnaire contained three open-ended questions about what characteristic of a sports clubs makes them feel well, not well and makes them want to stay in sports clubs. The data was analysed with content analysis in combination with statistical analyses.

Results
Early results shows that fun, social dimensions, coaches, but also organizing aspects like amount and ambition of practice are factors that young people think makes a sports club healthpromoting.

Conclusions
Health-promoting perspective on sports clubs can from young peoplés perspective include many dimensions and develop sports clubs in this direction could lead to young people staying longer.